Abrading apparatus and the like



Jan. 14, 1941. J. E. BURNS 2,228,386

ABRADING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed March 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1llll'wmurt Jan. 14, 1941. J. E. BURNS ABRADING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1959 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Application March 20,

5 Claims.

This invention appertains to apparatus for grinding or sharpening edgedtools, implements, and the like, and more especially to apparatus forforming serrated edges on the same.

Among the principal objects of the invention, it has been my .aim toprovide a compact, relatively simple and inexpensive, portable apparatuswhich will efficiently perform the desird grinding operation.

To the above end, my apparatus is generally composed of a base, uponwhich a rotary abrasive element is mounted, the base carrying a motoroperatively connected with the rotary element to drive the same, and theassembly of the parts being of such a character as to constitute a rigidand durable unit which is endowed with long life and which will notreadily get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and novelform of housing for the rotary. abrasive element, the housing serving inpart as a tank for catching the water or other fluid medium which isgenerally used in connection with grinding apparatus of this character,and the tank also having an easily removable hood which cooperates withthe tank to substantially enclose the rotary abrasive element, thuspreventing the liquid medium, abrasive and metallic particles from beingthrown off into the air in the vicinity of the apparatus.

As a further object of the invention, the tank and removable hood abovereferred to are so constructed as to insure a maximum degree of safetyin the operation of the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluiddistributing means by which water or an equivalent fluid medium may beeffectively directed onto the rotary abrasive element while the same isin use to perform the grinding operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, and the novelfeatures thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying theessential features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l;

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views takenapproximately in the planes of the lines 3-3, 44, 5-5, 66 and 'I-I,respectively, of Figure 2.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings, wherein I denotes a base which is preferably1939, Serial No. 262,996

formed of metal for the sake of rigidity, and to impart substantialweight to the base for the purpose of minimizing vibration, distortion,and misalignment of the elements carried thereby, as hereinafterreferred to. Near one end of the base and extending outwardly therefrom,is a pair of standards 2, 2 which may be formed integrally with the baseI, as by casting the base and standards in one piece. The upper ends ofthe standards 2, 2 are each provided with a semi-circular recess 3, andsecured to the upper extremity of each standard is a cap 4, also havinga semicircular recess or seat 5 therein. The caps 4, 4 are removablysecured to their respective standards 2, 2 by any suitable fasteningmeans such as bolts 6. The semi-circular recesses 3'and 5 together forma circular seat for receiving and clamping the cylindrical woodenbearing members I, I, each of these bearing members having a conicalrecess 8 in its inner extremity for receiving the tapered or pointedends 9, 9 of a spindle ID. The spindle I0 is thus rotatably mountedbetween the opposed bearing members I, I, which are axially adjustablein their seats when the cap I bolts 6 are loosened, to take up wear. Themembers I, I are preferably made of hard wood to minimize wear, and atthe same time minimize friction resisting rotation of the spindle Ill.Such a construction is quite simple and inexpensive, yet highlyefficient and perfectly suited for the pur- .30 poses intended.

The spindle I0 is provided near one end with an abutment flange I Iwhich may be integrally formed therewith or otherwise separately formedand fixed thereto, and the opposite end of the spindle is threaded, asat I2, to receive a clamping nut I 3 which abuts against a disc I4 whichis slidable on the spindle. Disposed intermediate the flange II and thedisc I4, is an abrasive wheel generally designated I5, the same having acentral opening lined with Babbitt metal IE or other relatively softmaterial. In mounting the abrasive wheel I5 on the spindle ID, the nutI3 and disc I4 are removed so that the spindle may be inserted throughthe central opening in the wheel until the abutment flange II engagesone side of the wheel. Thereafter, the disc I4 is applied onto thespindle and moved into abutting engagement with the opposite side of thewheel, and the nut I3 is screwed onto the threaded end I2 of the spindleto impart a clamping pressure to the disc I4 and thereby firmly securethe abrasive wheel I 5 to the spindle I0.

A pulley I1 is fixedly mounted near one end of the spindle I0 and isoperatively connected by a belt l8 to a driving pulley l9 fixedlymounted on the drive shaft 28 of an electric motor 2|. The motor 2| issecured to the base I in any suitable manner, provision being made foradjusting the motor relatively to the abrasive wheel l5 so that theproper tension can be imparted to the belt l8 and wear of the belt canbe compensated to prevent slippage of the belt. As a convenient form ofadjustable mounting for the motor 2|, the motor base 22 may be slotted,as at 23, and bolts 24 passed through said slots and threadedly receivedin openings 25 formed in the base The slots 23 thus allow a reasonablerange of adjustment of the motor 2| on the base I when the bolts 24 areloosened.

The abrasive wheel I5 may be constructed of any suitable material and ispreferably composed of what is known in the trade as a Whetstonemixture. When used to grind serrations in edged tools, the periphery ofthe wheel H3 is formed with grooves to provide alternate,circumferential, V-shaped grooves and ridges transversely across theperipheral face of the same. Of course, an abrasive wheel having asmooth or plain peripheral face may be used for the purpose ofperforming an ordinary grinding or sharpening operation. In either case,the width of the abrasive wheel is preferably approximately equal to thelength of the edge of the tool or implement which is to be sharpened orserrated, as the case may be. However, this is not essential, asnarrower abrasive wheels may be employed if preferred, so that insteadof acting upon the entire edge in one operation, the edge of the tool orimplement may be sharpened or serrated in successive stages.

Mounted upon the base I is a tank 28 of elongated, generally rectangularform, the tank being preferably made of sheet metal and including abottom 21, laterally spaced side walls 28, 28 and end walls 28, 3B. Theend wall 38 extends upwardly from the end of the base opposite to themotor supporting end, and is curved so asto be disposed relatively closeto the periphery of the abrasive wheel l5, as will be best understoodfrom reference to Figures 1 and 3. The upper extremity of the end wall38 terminates about on a level with the uppermost side of the abrasivewheel so that it'eXtends a substantial distance around the periphery ofthe wheel. The side walls 28, 28 are of substantially uniform heightfrom the end wall 29 to about the vertical center of the abrasive wheeli5,- with the upper edges disposed somewhat below the horizontal centerof the wheel. At about the vertical center of the abrasive wheel IS, theside walls 28, 23 are vertically extended upwardly to correspond withthe height of the curved end wall 30, but with their upper extremitiesinclined downwardly from the upper edge of the end wall 3|], as clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 3. The free edges of the side Walls 28, 28 andthe end wall 29 are preferably rolled over in an outward direction, asindicated at 3|. to provide a bead, which serves to stiffen'the tankwalls and also to minimize the danger of injuring the operator throughbodily contact with the edges of the tank. The tank 28 is fixedlysecured to the base in any convenient manner, as by means of a pair ofangle brackets 32, each having one arm attached to one of the side walls28 near the motor end of the tank, and the other arm attached to thebase I, as shown in the drawings. The opposite or curved end of the tankis fastened to the base I by means of a pair of spaced straps 33 havingtheir upper extremities secured to the end wall 38 and their lowerextremities secured to the edge of the base l, as by means of screws 34.

Mounted on the end wall 36 near the bottom of the same, andcommunicating with the interior of the tank 26, is a draincock by meansof which liquid in the tank may be conveniently drained off from time totime, as desired.

In the use of the apparatus for performing a tool grinding, sharpeningor serrating operation, a liquid, such as water, is preferably sprayedupon the abrasive wheel I5. To this end, there is provided a spray tube36 disposed transversely between the side Walls 28, 28 of the tank 26,just below the lip or upper extremity 31 of the curved end wall 30, thelip 31 being preferably turned inwardly, as shown in Figure 3, so thatits extreme edge will not be presented in a position which wouldinterfere with the free manipulation of the tool or implement while heldin the hands of the operator. As clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6,the spray tube 36 is disposedwith one end in abutting engagement withthe inner face of one of the upwardly extended side walls 28 of the tank26, and is attached to the wall by means of a screw 38 which is insertedthrough an aperture in the tank wall and threadedly engaged withtheinterior of the spray tube. The opposite end of the spray tube isextended through an aperture in the opposite upwardly extended tank wall28 so that it projects somewhat beyond the outer face of the latter, anda flexible hose 39 or other suitable conduit is operatively connected tothe outer extremity of the spray tube. The hose or conduit 39 may bereadily attached to any convenient source of water supply so that thewater will be directed into the spray tube 35 and projected from thelatter through perforations 4|! arranged at spaced intervals along thespray tube at the side which is nearest to the abrasive wheel l5. Theperforations 4|l'ar'e preferably arranged in such positions that thewater will be sprayed onto the abrasive wheel I5 substantiallytangential to the periphery of the latter, as indicated by the arrows inFigure 3, thus minimizing splashing of the water through impact againstthe periphery of the abrasive wheel.

Mounted upon the upper extremity of the tank 26 and cooperating withtheupwardly extended side walls 28, 28 and end wall 30, is a removablehood 4|, which is also preferably made of sheet metal. The hood includesspaced side walls 42, 42 and a curved end wall 43, with the walls allextended upwardly for a substantial distance above the rotary abrasiveelement l5. The upper edges of the side walls 42, 42 are downwardlyinclined from the upper edge of the curved wall 43, as clearly shown inFigures 1 and 2, and the upper edges of the side walls 42, 42 and thecurved wall 43 are preferably rolled over in an outward direction toform a bead 44 to stiffen the same and to eliminate any sharp edges onthe hood which might accidentally cause injury to the operator of theapparatus. With the hood 4| mounted on the tank 26, as shown in Figures1 and 2, the inclined upper edges of the hood meet the inclined upperedges of the extended tank walls at an angle of about ninety degrees,more or less, thereby exposing a portion of the peripheral surface ofthe abrasive wheel I5 at the upper side thereof for engagement with thetool or implement to be operated upon. The remainder of the abrasivewheel i5 excepting for the operating surface above referred to, iscompletely enclosed within the tank and hood, thereby insuring a maximumdegree of safety intheoperation of theapparatus and preventing thewater, and abrasive and metal particles, from being thrown off into theair at a distance from the apparatus pursuant to rotation of theabrasive wheel.

The walls of the hood 4| are preferably so arranged that they overlapslightly upon the contiguous walls of the tank 26, at the inner sides ofthe tank walls, as will be best understood from reference to Figures 1,3, 4, 5 and 7. To support the hood in its properly mounted position uponthe tank 26, a plurality of brackets 45 are secured to the lowerextremities of the hood walls, there being preferably one bracket oneach of the side walls 42, 42 adjacent to the ends nearest the abrasivewheel l5, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the front or forwardend, and a pair .of spaced brackets are secured to the rear wall 43. Thebrackets 45 may each be of identical construction, with their lowermostfree extremities disposed in outwardly spaced relation to the walls towhich the same are fixed by means of rivets 46 or other equivalentfastening instrumentalities. Due to the spacing of the brackets 45respecting the hood walls, the roll or beaded upper edges 3| of the tank26 may be readily received in the brackets, as clearly shown in Figure4, as the hood is set onto the tank.

In applying the hood onto the tank, the forward end of the hood is firstintroduced between the upwardly extended side walls 28, 28 of the tank26, with the forwardly disposed brackets 45 engaged overthe upper beadededge of that portion of the tank which is of substantially uniformheight, and the hood is then moved forwardly until its rear wall 43 isdisposed slightly forwardly of the rear tank wall 29. Thereupon, therear end of the hood may be moved downwardly for a short distance withinthe tank until the brackets 45 on the wall of the hood abut against theupper edge of the rear tank wall 29. It will be understood, of course,that the forward edges of the side walls 42, 42 of the hood 4! arenotched to afford clearance around the spindle Ill, and likewise, therear edges of the extended portions of the side walls 28, 28 of the tank26 are notched so as not to interfere with the rotation of the spindlewhich carries the abrasive wheel 15. The arrangement of these notcheswill be best understood from reference to Figures 1, 3 and '7.

By virtue of the removable assembly of the hood 4| and tank 46, the hoodmay be quickly and conveniently lifted off the tank to afford access tothe latter for purposes of cleaning, and also to enable the abrasivewheel l5 and its spindle III to be conveniently removed forinterchanging abrasive wheels. The same spindle It may be utilized fordifierent abrasive wheels, if desired,

having in mind the removable nature of the,

mounting of the abrasive wheel l5 on the spindle ID, as hereinbeforedescribed.

In the use of the apparatus, the tool or implement is held by theoperator in an obvious manner with its edge pressed against theoperative peripheral surface of the abrasive wheel it, which is exposedby the inclinations of the upper edges.

of the tank and hood walls. The operative or working surface of theabrasive wheel is so disposed as to be conveniently accessible to theoperator while stationed at the forward end of the machine, which is tosay, the left-hand end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.During the sharpening or serrating operations, the water directed ontothe abrasive wheel l5 by means of the spray tube 36 serves to keep thetool or implement cool, and otherwise aids in maintaining a highlyeificient operation. While the apparatus is primarily intended for usein sharpening or serrating such edged tools as scissors, knives, andvarious other forms of cutlery, shear plates or blades of many sorts, itis to be understood that there is no intention of limiting the usethereof solely to this field. It will be obvious that buffing wheels,sanding elements and other similar instrumentalities may be substitutedfor the abrasive wheel I5 hereinbefore described, as the occasionrequires or demands, so that the appara-v tus may be said to constitutea multipurpose or universal unit. As shown in Figure 2, the motor 2| ispreferably provided with a control switch 4? for enabling the same to bestarted and stopped at will. Due to the compactness of the unit, thesame is readily portable, and can be conveniently placed upon any smalltable or work bench which is available to support the same while in use.When the base I and standards 2, 2 are made of cast iron or other metal,the apparatus will be sufficiently rigid and of such weight as torequire no anchoring means to maintain the same stationary while inoperation. By connecting the motor- 2| to any convenient electricaloutlet through means of the conductor cable 48, the apparatus isimmediately conditioned for operation.

While the specific details have been herein shown and described, theinvention is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of spacedstandards carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, arotary element rotatably supported between said standards, motor meansmounted on said base and operatively connected to said rotary elementfor driving the same, and a housing substantially enclosing said rotaryelement, said housing including a tank mounted on said base andextending between said standards partly around the rotary element, saidtank comprising a bottom, an end wall disposed at a substantial distancefrom the rotary element, spaced walls adjoining said end wall andextending therefrom at a substantially uniform height below the axis ofthe rotary element to about the vertical center of the rotary elementand extending upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of therotary element from the vertical center to the end of the base, with theupper edges of the extended side walls disposed at an inclination to thehorizontal, and another end wall adjoining the bottom and the upwardlyextended edges of the side walls and curved about the periphery of therotary element in close proximity thereto, and a hood removably mountedon said tank and also extending partly around the rotary element.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of spacedstandards carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, arotary element rotatably supported between said standards, motor meansmounted on said base and operatively connected to said rotary elementfor driving the same, and a housing substantially enclosing said rotaryelement, said housing including a tank mounted on said base andextending between said standards partly around the rotary element, saidtank comprising a bottom, an end wall disposed at a substantial distancefrom the rotary element, spaced walls adjoining said end wall andextending therefrom at a substantially uniform height below the axis ofthe rotary element to about the vertical center of the rotary elementand extending upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of therotary element from the vertical center to the end of the base, with theupper edges of the extended side walls disposed at an inclination to thehorizontal, and another end wall adjoining the bottom and the upwardlyextended edges of the side walls and curved about the periphery of therotary element in close proximity thereto, and a hood removably mountedon said tank and also extending partly around the rotary element, saidhood comprising spaced side walls adapted to be disposed above theportions of the side walls of the tank which are of substantiallyuniform height, with the lower extremities of the hood side wallsslightly overlapped upon the inner faces of the tank side walls, theupper edges of the hood side walls being inclined from a point below theuppermost side of the rotary element to a point substantially above therotary element, and a rear Wall adjoining the hood side walls with itslowermost edge adapted to be slightly overlapped upon the inner face ofthe end wall of the tank which is remote from the rotary element, saidend wall of the hood curving upwardly above the tank towards the upperextremities of the hood side walls.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of spacedstandards carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, arotary element rotatably supported between said standards, motor meansmounted on said base and operatively connected to said rotary elementfor driving the same, and a housing substantially enclosing said rotaryelement, said housing including a tank mounted on said base andextending between said standards partly around the rotary element, saidtank comprising a bottom, an end wall disposed at a substantial distancefrom the rotary element, spaced walls adjoining saidend wall andextending therefrom at a substantially uniform height below the axis ofthe rotary element to about the vertical center of the rotary elementand extending upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of therotary element from the vertical center to the end of the base, with theupper edges of the extended side walls disposed at an inclination to thehorizontal, and another end wall adjoining the bottom and the upwardlyextended edges of the side walls and curved about the periphery of therotary element in close proximity thereto, and a hood removably mountedon said tank and also extending partly around the rotary element, saidhood comprising spaced side walls adapted to be disposed above theportions of the side walls of the tank which are of substantiallyuniform height, with the lower extremities of the hood side wallsslightly overlapped upon the inner faces of the tank side walls, theupper edges of the hood side walls being inclined from a point below theuppermost side of the rotary element to a point substantially above therotary element, and a rear wall adjoining the hood side walls with itslowermost edge adapted to be slightly overlapped upon the inner face ofthe end wall of the tank which is remote from the rotary element, saidend wall of the hood curving upwardly above the tank towards the upperextremities of the hood side walls, and the upper edges of the tank andhood being formed with beads to stiffen the same.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of spacedstandards carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, arotary element rotatably supported between said standards, motor meansmounted on said base and operatively connected to said rotary elementfor driving the same, and a housing substantially enclosing said rotaryelement, said housing including a tank mounted on said base andextending between said standards partly around the rotary element, saidtank comprising a bottom, an end wall disposed at a substantial distancefrom the rotary element, spaced walls adjoining said end wall andextending therefrom at a substantially uniform height below the axis ofthe rotary element to about the vertical center of the rotary elementand extending upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of therotary element from the vertical center to the end of the base, with theupper edges of the extended side walls disposed at an inclination to thehorizontal, and another end wall adjoining the bottom and the upwardlyextended edges of the side walls and curved about the periphery of therotary element in close proximity thereto, a hood removably mounted onsaid tank and also extending partly around the rotary element, and aperforated spray tube disposed transversely between the upperextremities of the upwardly extended portions of the tank side walls atthe inner side of and below the upper edge of the curved end wall.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of spacedstandards carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom, arotary element rotatably supported between said standards, motor meansmounted on said base and operatively connected to said rotary elementfor driving the same, and a housing substantially enclosing said rotaryelement, said housing including a tank mounted on said base andextending between said standards partly around the rotary element, saidtank comprising a bottom, an end wall disposed at a substantial distancefrom the rotary element, spaced walls adjoining said end wall andextending therefrom at a substantially uniform height below the axis ofthe rotary element to about the vertical center of the rotary elementand extending upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of therotary element from the vertical center to the end of the base, with theupper edges of the extended side walls disposed at an inclination to thehorizontal, and another end wall adjoining the bottom and the upwardlyextended edges of the side walls and curved about the periphery of therotary element in close proximity thereto, a hood removably mounted onsaid tank and also extending partly around the rotary element, and aperforated spray tube disposed transversely between the upperextremities of the upwardly extended portions of the tank side walls atthe inner side of and below the upper edge of the curved end wall,fastening means extended through one of the side walls of the tank intothe contiguous end of the spray tube, and the opposite end of the spraytube being extended through the opposite side wall of the tank andadapted to be connected to a source of liquid supply.

JOSEPH E. BURNS.

